Grand Avenue Merchant News – November 2022by Ken Katz – What we’ve been referring to previously as Stars/Dollars/Hearts formally opened at 3221 Grand this past weekend but with a new moniker: Two Two. They feature a broad array of highly creative merchandise ranging from high couture fashions to gourmet chocolates—all produced by up-and-coming designers. This is how owner CC Doan describes their mind-set: Two Two is a gallery/shop that focuses on emerging makers across fashion, art, design, and craft. Our curatorial lens is playful, crafted, reciprocal, and experimental. Here is where you’ll discover limited works by artists and designers you may have never heard of before—some right here in Oakland, or as far away as Paris and Japan. We’ll also be offering a selection of creative workshops and arts programming. Info about our artists and current offerings are available on our website. For the time being, Two Two is open Fridays through Sundays… CONTINUE READING
Lakeshore BID – November 2022 Highlights
by Kira Pascoe – Halloween and Halloween weekend were festive on Lakeshore and Lake Park Ave! See how Lakeshore celebrated from the Annual Parade, parties, treats, and swag. Big news for the Avenue: 1) Lakeshore Cafe celebrated its 20th anniversary and, in celebration, has overhauled its menu (yum!). 2) The owners of Bardo Lounge and Supper Club have bought Sidebar. 3) Hipline has grown to have classes in-person and online. Now, they have an online boutique with cool swag and stylish clothes. Giving Back: Proposition Chicken and the Oakland LBGTQ Center are giving back to the community with efforts to community food security and education. Read all about it! Lakeshore’s annual Halloween Parade was delightful and a success! Eager trick-or-treaters in creative costumes visited participating businesses in the morning and returned to Lakeshore Baptist Church for goodie bags and lunch. It was great fun for all — younger and older…. CONTINUE READING
The 11th Annual Autumn Lights Festival The Best Yet
by Sarah Van Roo – The Autumn Lights Festival at the Gardens at Lake Merritt drew the curtain across its garden stage on Saturday evening, October 15. Over three evenings, 11,000 festival-goers enjoyed a peaceful, vibrant event. Families with young kids, the hip and hip-replacement crowd, and everyone in, between mingled happily in the fantastic fall weather. This year’s garden glow drew in over 300 artists, with more than 90+ installations incorporating LED lights, creativity, and sparkling innovation in film. Many artists who participated brought huge installations to us from Burning Man. All of these creative spirits donate their time and incredible talent to make the festival what it is. This was the eleventh year of the festival, which started as a dreamy concept by then-park supervisor Tora Rocha. Collaborators included Susan Casentini and Kyle Mulligan, Mary Mortimer, Bruce Cobbledick, Karen Cusolito, Brooke Levin, the Departments of Public Works, and Parks and Recreation. CONTINUE READING
Update on the Grand Avenue Complete Streets Paving Project
by Celina Chan and Charlie Ream – In case you missed it last month, the Splash Pad News shared a background article about the Grand Avenue Complete Streets Repaving Project led by the Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT). This project focuses on Grand Avenue between Broadway and Elwood Avenue, a vibrant commercial corridor and gateway to Lake Merritt. This section of Grand Avenue is set to be repaved by 2024. OakDOT is designing safety improvements with input from community members. Staff have been working on preliminary designs for protected bicycle lanes, transit improvements, and traffic calming improvements. To view the complete set of preliminary designs, please visit the project website. We’ve also developed an online survey, which provides an overview of the improvements and has links to the PDF of the designs. We invite you to provide feedback by answering a few short questions in the this online survey. OakDOT staff used a block-by-block approach to design improvements…. CONTINUE READING
Farmers Market Updates – November 2022
by Dan Foster – We encourage you to visit the Gather For the Planet website to learn more about our December 3rd fundraiser to be held at the Swedish American Music Hall, benefiting AIM and the Center for Food & Agriculture. Also, the annual Christmas Tree lot will be arriving at Splash Pad Park starting Sunday 11/13. Many vendors will need to be temporarily moved to accommodate them. Remember, you can check the Grand Lake digital map each week to see if your favorite vendors will be present, and where they will be located. If using a smartphone, we recommend landscape mode for the best viewing experience. Market Participant Spotlight – Green Wolf Foods – Vegan meat substitutes: naturally smoked ready-to-eat vegan salami/sausages, 100% plant-based. Find them on the sidewalk facing Grand Avenue… CONTINUE READING
Odds & Ends – November 2022
by Ken Katz – City of Oakland celebrates the EVgo fast-charging station at 519 Lake Park Avenue in Oakland with a news conference on October 12. A May 2022 Stanford University study graphically outlines the reasons California is facing a mental health and homeless crisis and outlines specific measures to address them. Courtesy of The Oaklandside, a report about My Goodness, a new addition to the Lakeside Cafe serving delicious soft-serve ice cream. And the LA Times writes about a non-profit agency in Salt Lake City called the “Inn Between” whose mission is to “end the tragic history of vulnerable people dying on the streets.” CONTINUE READING
November 2022 Calendar
by Sheila McCormick
This month’s top picks:
November 4, Lakeside Chat #24 – Fish in the Bay
November 16, History of Native California
November 17, Lost Urban Houses in the East Bay
For the full month’s calendar, please click on this link.
November 2022 Calendar of the Month
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